With more than $24 million won by National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) competitors in 2023, stallions are reaching new million-dollar milestones rapidly. One of the stallions who left their mark last year is NRHA Hall of Famer Spooks Gotta Whiz. Not only did the stallion surpass the NRHA $7 Million Sire mark just two months after crossing the $6 million, but he was also the second-highest leading sire of 2023 (NRHA categories 1-12) with $2,285,709 earned by his offspring.
Spooks Gotta Whiz offspring excelling in the show pen is no surprise considering the stallion’s own successful career. The 2007 stallion, bred by Clint Haverty, earned the 2010 NRHA Level 4 Open Futurity Championship with NRHA $3 Million Rider Jordan Larson. His talent continued to shine with NRHA $7 Million Rider Shawn Flarida when the team won the Level 4 Open Championship at the 2012 NRHA Derby and the National Reining Breeders Classic that same year. The team ended their career on an impressive note by taking home a team and individual gold medal at the 2014 World Equestrian Games held in Normandy, France.
The sire by Spooks Gotta Gun and out of Prettywhizprettydoes had exceptional offspring push him past the $7 million milestone at the 2023 Futurity and Adequan® North American Affiliate Championships for owner Michell Anne Kimball. In the open and non pro futurity alone, Spooks Gotta Whiz offspring earned more than $458,000, greater than any other sire.
One of the offspring that helped Spooks Gotta Whiz become the top-earning sire at the 2023 NRHA Futurity was Shez Got Addy Tude (out of Miss Lil Addy Tude). With NRHA Professional Kole Price at the reins, the mare scored a 223 to earn the NRHA Open Futurity Level 3 Championship and sixth in the Level 4. The wins added $137,861 to her NRHA lifetime earnings (LTE). The mare, owned by Capital Quarter Horses LLC, was nominated by Michell Anne Kimball, owner of Spooks Gotta Whiz.
Mare power continued to propel Spooks Gotta Whiz to the next milestone when NRHA Professional Luca Fappani and Playing With Da Boys earned the Open Level 2 Futurity Co-Championship and $108,000 for owner Neiberger-Camp Partnership. ‘Charlie’ (out of My Berry Best Gun) was bred and nominated by Sergio Elia and now boasts $112,099 in NRHA LTE, all earned with Fappani.
Although Spooks Gotta Whiz retired from the show pen in 2014, his name still echoes through arenas worldwide as his offspring dominate in the show pen, proving that his talent, heart, and tenacity continue to leave a lasting legacy.
Spooks Gotta Whiz’s top-earning offspring include:
- Alpha Jac Sparrow (out of Chexanicki), owned by Fritz Leeman, bred by Alpha Quarter Horses LLC, earning $240,326
- Mic Dropp (out of Dun Dry Whiz), owned by Tim Anderson/Clark Reining Horses LLC and bred by Clark Reining Horses LLC, earning $235,987
- Spooks Gotta Spark (out of Dolittle Lena), owned by Kevin Truax and bred by Bobby Lewis, earning $215,585
- Spooky Whiz (out of Myo Starlight), owned by Bosque Ranch Performance Horses LLC and bred by Spence Bell, earning $186,043
- Gotta Twist It Up (out of Make It With A Twist), owned and bred by Sandra Bentien, earning $183,837